TNAG-2452-FCO40-3569-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 99

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SECRET &#3

Constitutional Development : The way Forward

Our Objective

Our objective is to secure agreement by the

Legislative Council to constitutional package as quickly as

possible.

Hong Kong Dimension

2.

Opinion polls taken after the Governor's visit

to China confirmed earlier findings of robust public

for his proposals. However, public opinion (which

is much media-led) can be fickle and is susceptible to

support

pressure tactics by China.

While the main-stream media

remain supportive, some Chinese papers are beginning to

pause and reflect, showing anxiety over the viability of

the package vis-a-viz uncompromising Chinese attitude. The

question is therefore how to sustain the present supportive

mood until the required legislation is debated and enacted

by Legco.

longer the process the more difficult the

The

task. Indeed it is inevitable that under the intensive and

relentless propaganda barrage support is likely to erode.

SECRET &*3